Active packaging manufacturer Alpla and materials manufacturer Golden Compound have launched a biodegradable coffee capsule that can be disposed of in a home compost.

The capsule is made from the material Golden Compound green, comprising an organically based material and ground natural fibers from sunflower seed shells.

The sunflower seed shells are used as a reinforcing material.

They are a by-product of the food industry and not in competition with food production.

The capsule and filter fleece are completely biodegradable in the garden compost within a maximum of six months, and are free from aluminum and genetically modified organisms.

The material offers an oxygen barrier that is very much comparable with conventional plastics such as PP-EVOH-PP.

The monolayer coffee capsule is thus aroma-proof without outer packaging.

Furthermore, Golden Compound green is certified in line with the standards ‘OK compost HOME’ and ‘OK biodegradable SOIL’ from TÜV.

Alpla provides both the capsule and the garden-compostable lid.

As the first user, Amann Kaffee from Vorarlberg, Austria will be presenting the new product as part of the ‘Gustav – fair for consumer culture’ trade fair in the Dornbirn trade fair district from October 19-21, 2018.

Meanwhile, Golden Compound will display the solution at the industry trade fair Fakuma in Friedrichshafen, Germany from October 16, 2018.